I am having difficulty preventing people from entering my apartment. I have purchased pickproof locks, but they still get in. I can only conclude that a locksmith is involved and is cutting a key for my locks. Do they have to know the brand of lock in order to cut a key? I had a open house today, but was not invited, if you catch my drift.
Tags: Apartment, cutting, Drift, Information, Key Lock, Lock, Lock Key, Locks, Locksmith, Need, Open House, Order
A locksmith generally has to have the lock cylinder in his possession to make a key for entry door locks. The “pickproof” brands such as Medico, Kaba, Multi-lock, etc. are even tougher and often involve proprietary key blanks that only the original seller can access. Certainly, no legitimate locksmith is going to make keys for a dwelling without seeing the customer’s proof of ownership.
You didn’t say anything was stolen. Have you called the police? Have your burglars stolen anything? Or are they doing senseless things like drinking your beverages, eating things in your refrigerator, or re-arranging the towels in your linen closet?
I don’t mean to be insulting, but locksmiths often get calls that sound a lot like your post. Some people convince themselves that someone is getting in, no matter how good the locks are, or how frequently they are changed. On checking it out, I have been told all the silly stories I mentioned above, plus others, but booze, food and towels are the most common. One woman I know of called the cops because she thought a local locksmith had made keys to her home to steal one AA battery.
Calls involving break-ins with no damage and nothing of value taken are usually caused by failure to take medication. Ask any cop.
They need the lock to make a key.
I think you may want to get a video system to record your home. I doubt it’s the locksmith. Please tell us what Items have you discovered are missing? A pro would not likely return for muliple visits since they would have taken all the valuable stuff the first time.
why not try one of the newer electronic entry system. you have to enter a series of numbers into a keypad that only you know. also make sure they’re not ENTERING YOUR APARTMENT SOME OTHER WAY, such as a window.
good luck to ya. got a computer? maybe you can add a hidden camera and catch whoever is doing this to ya,
Like others said you would need the clylinder to key it,as far as cutting a key goes, you can go to any hardware store and get them cut with no hassle, unless they have do no duplicate printed on the key its self then you would have to take it to a locksmith where they would then possibly ask you questions.Was anything worth value taken.However I would highly doubt its a locksmith, mainly because they would get a higher theift sentencing than a normal B&E with someone without the lisenced skill.Because of their trusted profession.
If you purchased pic proof locks, I am guessing the apt bldg management does NOT have a key to the new locks which would rule them out. The locksmith needs the cylinder to key a lock. So unless you can JIMMY the door with a credit card or something. You should try a different lock smith that does NOT know your address or apt. Number.
Most apartment complexes have master keys for the maintenance staff so there might be an issue there. I also heard a story on the radio recently about “bump keys” and a rash of complex robberies. Here is a link to the story on NPR. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story…
I would say that you may be giving a key to some one you shouldn’t trust as a locksmith would have to physically take the lock off and take it apart to fit a key to it.
Knowing the brand and keyway would help but you would still have to decode the lock in order to make a key to work it.
If you are coming home and the door is not locked I would also check to see if there is a window or patio door that some one may be able to use to gain access as many people don’t think of this when securing their homes and your visitors wouldn’t be able to lock up after themselves when they leave due to the fact they don’t have a key..